Bartel, Lorena Mildred (nee Gerbrandt)
March 6, 1921 – May 12, 2016.

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Lorena Mildred Bartel, of Lanigan Central Lodge, formerly of Lockwood and Drake, Saskatchewan on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the age of 95 years. Lorena passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus while in her sleep.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Wayne (Linda) Bartel , Don (Shirley) Bartel, Allan (Elaine) Bartel, Audrey (Norman) Drolet, and Joyce (NIck) Koturbash, 10 grandchildren and spouses, and 22 great grandchildren. Lorena is also survived by her sister Linda Bartel and brother Franklin (Irma) Gerbrandt, sisters-in-law Mary Schmidt and Emma (Orren) Bartel, Eunice Strueby, brother-in-law Art Driediger, and many nieces and nephews.
Lorena was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Herold Bartel, in 1987. She was also predeceased by her parents Jacob and Anna Gerbrandt and her siblings Clarence, Edna Downs, Orlin, Eldon, Ella Quiring, and Helen Loewen.

Lorena Mildred Gerbrandt was born to Jacob and Anna Marie (Bartel) on March 6, 1921 in Drake, Saskatchewan and was the fifth child of nine siblings.

She attended grades one to seven in southern Alberta schools including Lethbridge, Crystal Lake, Bassano and Gem as her father travelled to support new immigrants to Canada. For grade eight the family returned to the Drake Area and she attended Kansas School before completing her education in the town of Drake.

She married Herold Bartel on June 10, 1942 in Drake. Herold was a farmer before becoming an Electrician. They farmed west of Lockwood and Lorena lived on the family farm until February 1994.

Lorena was a busy homemaker who raised five wonderful children (Wayne, Donald, Allan, Audrey and Joyce). Above and beyond that she was very active in her community serving in the Saskatchewan Women’s Institute (formerly the Homemakers club) supporting the Lockwood Community Hall as a place for community gatherings. She enjoyed travelling to town to watch not only her children participate in hockey and baseball games but also as an exuberant fan of the hockey and baseball teams representing her community.

An avid sewer, Lorena offered her services as a seamstress to the community along with sewing clothes for her family. She was an excellent cook and could create amazing family meals for her extended families and created beautifully decorated cakes for many functions.

As her family grew and had their own families, Lorena became interested in quilting and created many beautiful quilts for her family and as raffle prizes for community events. She was also a gifted quilting teacher who taught many how to create beautiful quilts through her many workshops.


In 1994, when she moved to Drake, Lorena became very involved in the Silver Sages as a member at large and served on the Executive Committed for many years. She was an avid games player and enjoyed teaching everyone the many card and domino games she learned at the Sages.

Church was always part of Lorena’s life. She enjoyed attending services and even in her later years when she was unable to attend she would listen to the service on the radio.

Lorena was a very caring and loving grandmother to 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. She always had freshly baked cinnamon buns and peppernuts to share with them and was always on to play a card or domino game. Her love of crafting was shared with her grandkids especially the girls as she always had craft activities to share with them.

After leaving the farm, Lorena moved to Drake and lived in her little house across from the church for twenty years. After that, Lorena made the short move to the Manor where she lived in her two bedroom apartment for two and half years. She recently transitioned to living at the Lanigan Care Home which she enjoyed as she was close to her sister Linda and was surrounded by people she knew. She was very appreciative of the care and community she felt there.

Lorena was loved by her family and friends and will be dearly missed by us all.

What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.
– Helen Keller


A special thank you to the caring and dedicated people at Central Parkland Lodge for the wonderful care that Mom received during her short time as a resident.
A celebration of Lorena’s life will be held on Friday May 27th at North Star Mennonite Church in Drake, Saskatchewan at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Interment will take place at 11 a.m. For online condolences, tributes or to make a donation in her memory please visit fotheringham-mcdougall.com.